diff --git a/basis/compiler/cfg/instructions/instructions.factor b/basis/compiler/cfg/instructions/instructions.factor
index 13c9f55b9f..8ee21154fa 100644
--- a/basis/compiler/cfg/instructions/instructions.factor
+++ b/basis/compiler/cfg/instructions/instructions.factor
@@ -89,12 +89,6 @@ INSN: ##set-slot-imm
 use: src/tagged-rep obj/tagged-rep
 literal: slot tag ;
 
-! String element access
-INSN: ##string-nth
-def: dst/int-rep
-use: obj/tagged-rep index/int-rep
-temp: temp/int-rep ;
-
 ! Register transfers
 INSN: ##copy
 def: dst
@@ -806,7 +800,6 @@ UNION: kill-vreg-insn
 UNION: def-is-use-insn
 ##box-alien
 ##box-displaced-alien
-##string-nth
 ##unbox-any-c-ptr ;
 
 SYMBOL: vreg-insn
diff --git a/basis/compiler/cfg/intrinsics/intrinsics.factor b/basis/compiler/cfg/intrinsics/intrinsics.factor
index 231cd5cee9..4faa4809e5 100644
--- a/basis/compiler/cfg/intrinsics/intrinsics.factor
+++ b/basis/compiler/cfg/intrinsics/intrinsics.factor
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ IN: compiler.cfg.intrinsics
     { kernel:eq? [ emit-eq ] }
     { slots.private:slot [ emit-slot ] }
     { slots.private:set-slot [ emit-set-slot ] }
-    { strings.private:string-nth [ drop emit-string-nth ] }
+    { strings.private:string-nth-fast [ drop emit-string-nth-fast ] }
     { strings.private:set-string-nth-fast [ drop emit-set-string-nth-fast ] }
     { classes.tuple.private:<tuple-boa> [ emit-<tuple-boa> ] }
     { arrays:<array> [ emit-<array> ] }
diff --git a/basis/compiler/cfg/intrinsics/strings/strings.factor b/basis/compiler/cfg/intrinsics/strings/strings.factor
index dea9510a99..70d8442a2b 100644
--- a/basis/compiler/cfg/intrinsics/strings/strings.factor
+++ b/basis/compiler/cfg/intrinsics/strings/strings.factor
@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@ compiler.cfg.instructions compiler.cfg.registers
 compiler.cfg.stacks cpu.architecture ;
 IN: compiler.cfg.intrinsics.strings
 
-: emit-string-nth ( -- )
-    2inputs swap ^^string-nth ds-push ;
+: (string-nth) ( n string -- base offset rep c-type )
+    ^^tagged>integer swap ^^add string-offset int-rep uchar ; inline
+
+: emit-string-nth-fast ( -- )
+    2inputs (string-nth) ^^load-memory-imm ds-push ;
 
 : emit-set-string-nth-fast ( -- )
-    3inputs ^^tagged>integer ^^add string-offset
-    int-rep uchar ##store-memory-imm ;
+    3inputs (string-nth) ##store-memory-imm ;
diff --git a/basis/compiler/codegen/codegen.factor b/basis/compiler/codegen/codegen.factor
index d0747d4a1e..63571e7874 100755
--- a/basis/compiler/codegen/codegen.factor
+++ b/basis/compiler/codegen/codegen.factor
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ CODEGEN: ##slot %slot
 CODEGEN: ##slot-imm %slot-imm
 CODEGEN: ##set-slot %set-slot
 CODEGEN: ##set-slot-imm %set-slot-imm
-CODEGEN: ##string-nth %string-nth
 CODEGEN: ##add %add
 CODEGEN: ##add-imm %add-imm
 CODEGEN: ##sub %sub
diff --git a/basis/compiler/tests/low-level-ir.factor b/basis/compiler/tests/low-level-ir.factor
index 7ce43e9524..57612e730e 100644
--- a/basis/compiler/tests/low-level-ir.factor
+++ b/basis/compiler/tests/low-level-ir.factor
@@ -97,15 +97,6 @@ IN: compiler.tests.low-level-ir
     } compile-test-bb
 ] unit-test
 
-[ CHAR: l ] [
-    V{
-        T{ ##load-reference f 0 "hello world" }
-        T{ ##load-tagged f 1 3 }
-        T{ ##string-nth f 0 0 1 2 }
-        T{ ##shl-imm f 0 0 4 }
-    } compile-test-bb
-] unit-test
-
 [ 1 ] [
     V{
         T{ ##load-tagged f 0 32 }
diff --git a/basis/compiler/tree/propagation/known-words/known-words.factor b/basis/compiler/tree/propagation/known-words/known-words.factor
index 55629507ab..ada01e213a 100644
--- a/basis/compiler/tree/propagation/known-words/known-words.factor
+++ b/basis/compiler/tree/propagation/known-words/known-words.factor
@@ -254,8 +254,8 @@ generic-comparison-ops [
     ] "outputs" set-word-prop
 ] each
 
-\ string-nth [
-    2drop fixnum 0 23 2^ [a,b] <class/interval-info>
+\ string-nth-fast [
+    2drop fixnum 0 255 [a,b] <class/interval-info>
 ] "outputs" set-word-prop
 
 {
diff --git a/basis/compiler/tree/propagation/propagation-tests.factor b/basis/compiler/tree/propagation/propagation-tests.factor
index ad8a75ecdd..d1a1dd18a6 100644
--- a/basis/compiler/tree/propagation/propagation-tests.factor
+++ b/basis/compiler/tree/propagation/propagation-tests.factor
@@ -968,3 +968,10 @@ M: tuple-with-read-only-slot clone
 
 [ t ] [ [ { 1 } diff ] { diff } inlined? ] unit-test
 [ f ] [ [ { 1 } swap diff ] { diff } inlined? ] unit-test ! We could do this
+
+! Output range for string-nth now that string-nth is a library word and
+! not a primitive
+[ t ] [
+    ! Should actually be 0 23 2^ 1 - [a,b]
+    [ string-nth ] final-info first interval>> 0 23 2^ [a,b] =
+] unit-test
diff --git a/basis/cpu/architecture/architecture.factor b/basis/cpu/architecture/architecture.factor
index a77337d1a0..d7e77d6267 100644
--- a/basis/cpu/architecture/architecture.factor
+++ b/basis/cpu/architecture/architecture.factor
@@ -244,8 +244,6 @@ HOOK: %slot-imm cpu ( dst obj slot tag -- )
 HOOK: %set-slot cpu ( src obj slot scale tag -- )
 HOOK: %set-slot-imm cpu ( src obj slot tag -- )
 
-HOOK: %string-nth cpu ( dst obj index temp -- )
-
 HOOK: %add     cpu ( dst src1 src2 -- )
 HOOK: %add-imm cpu ( dst src1 src2 -- )
 HOOK: %sub     cpu ( dst src1 src2 -- )
diff --git a/basis/cpu/ppc/ppc.factor b/basis/cpu/ppc/ppc.factor
index 3c23ae1b5f..70e8ef11ea 100644
--- a/basis/cpu/ppc/ppc.factor
+++ b/basis/cpu/ppc/ppc.factor
@@ -144,22 +144,6 @@ M: ppc %slot-imm ( dst obj slot tag -- ) slot-offset LWZ ;
 M: ppc %set-slot ( src obj slot -- ) swapd STWX ;
 M: ppc %set-slot-imm ( src obj slot tag -- ) slot-offset STW ;
 
-M:: ppc %string-nth ( dst src index temp -- )
-    [
-        "end" define-label
-        temp src index ADD
-        dst temp string-offset LBZ
-        0 dst HEX: 80 CMPI
-        "end" get BLT
-        temp src string-aux-offset LWZ
-        temp temp index ADD
-        temp temp index ADD
-        temp temp byte-array-offset LHZ
-        temp temp 7 SLWI
-        dst dst temp XOR
-        "end" resolve-label
-    ] with-scope ;
-
 M: ppc %add     ADD ;
 M: ppc %add-imm ADDI ;
 M: ppc %sub     swap SUBF ;
diff --git a/basis/cpu/x86/bootstrap.factor b/basis/cpu/x86/bootstrap.factor
index 969c02c910..5bb55bead0 100644
--- a/basis/cpu/x86/bootstrap.factor
+++ b/basis/cpu/x86/bootstrap.factor
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 USING: bootstrap.image.private compiler.constants
 compiler.units cpu.x86.assembler cpu.x86.assembler.operands
 kernel kernel.private layouts locals.backend make math
-math.private namespaces sequences slots.private vocabs ;
+math.private namespaces sequences slots.private strings.private
+vocabs ;
 IN: bootstrap.x86
 
 big-endian off
@@ -294,6 +295,21 @@ big-endian off
     ds-reg [] temp0 MOV
 ] \ slot define-sub-primitive
 
+[
+    ! load string index from stack
+    temp0 ds-reg bootstrap-cell neg [+] MOV
+    temp0 tag-bits get SHR
+    ! load string from stack
+    temp1 ds-reg [] MOV
+    ! load character
+    temp0 8-bit-version-of temp0 temp1 string-offset [++] MOV
+    temp0 temp0 8-bit-version-of MOVZX
+    temp0 tag-bits get SHL
+    ! store character to stack
+    ds-reg bootstrap-cell SUB
+    ds-reg [] temp0 MOV
+] \ string-nth-fast define-sub-primitive
+
 ! Shufflers
 [
     ds-reg bootstrap-cell SUB
diff --git a/basis/cpu/x86/x86.factor b/basis/cpu/x86/x86.factor
index a7fd859c20..d0afb7fa81 100644
--- a/basis/cpu/x86/x86.factor
+++ b/basis/cpu/x86/x86.factor
@@ -328,32 +328,6 @@ M: x86.64 has-small-reg? 2drop t ;
         [ quot call ] with-save/restore
     ] if ; inline
 
-M:: x86 %string-nth ( dst src index temp -- )
-    ! We request a small-reg of size 8 since those of size 16 are
-    ! a superset.
-    "end" define-label
-    dst { src index temp } 8 [| new-dst |
-        ! Load the least significant 7 bits into new-dst.
-        ! 8th bit indicates whether we have to load from
-        ! the aux vector or not.
-        new-dst 8-bit-version-of src index string-offset [++] MOV
-        new-dst new-dst 8-bit-version-of MOVZX
-        ! Do we have to look at the aux vector?
-        new-dst HEX: 80 CMP
-        "end" get JL
-        ! Yes, this is a non-ASCII character. Load aux vector
-        temp src string-aux-offset [+] MOV
-        new-dst temp XCHG
-        ! Load high 16 bits
-        new-dst 16-bit-version-of new-dst index byte-array-offset [+*2+] MOV
-        new-dst new-dst 16-bit-version-of MOVZX
-        new-dst 7 SHL
-        ! Compute code point
-        new-dst temp XOR
-        "end" resolve-label
-        dst new-dst int-rep %copy
-    ] with-small-register ;
-
 :: %alien-integer-getter ( dst exclude address bits quot -- )
     dst exclude bits [| new-dst |
         new-dst dup bits n-bit-version-of dup address MOV
diff --git a/basis/stack-checker/known-words/known-words.factor b/basis/stack-checker/known-words/known-words.factor
index c0d4b6c543..a652c500ba 100644
--- a/basis/stack-checker/known-words/known-words.factor
+++ b/basis/stack-checker/known-words/known-words.factor
@@ -454,11 +454,10 @@ M: bad-executable summary
 \ set-slot { object object fixnum } { } define-primitive
 \ set-special-object { object fixnum } { } define-primitive
 \ set-string-nth-fast { fixnum fixnum string } { } define-primitive
-\ set-string-nth-slow { fixnum fixnum string } { } define-primitive
 \ size { object } { fixnum } define-primitive \ size make-flushable
 \ slot { object fixnum } { object } define-primitive \ slot make-flushable
 \ special-object { fixnum } { object } define-primitive \ special-object make-flushable
-\ string-nth { fixnum string } { fixnum } define-primitive \ string-nth make-flushable
+\ string-nth-fast { fixnum string } { fixnum } define-primitive \ string-nth-fast make-flushable
 \ strip-stack-traces { } { } define-primitive
 \ system-micros { } { integer } define-primitive \ system-micros make-flushable
 \ tag { object } { fixnum } define-primitive \ tag make-foldable
diff --git a/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor b/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor
index 27699725f1..c00199e9b3 100644
--- a/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor
+++ b/core/bootstrap/primitives.factor
@@ -370,6 +370,7 @@ tuple
     { "fixnum<=" "math.private" (( x y -- z )) }
     { "fixnum>" "math.private" (( x y -- ? )) }
     { "fixnum>=" "math.private" (( x y -- ? )) }
+    { "string-nth-fast" "strings.private" (( n string -- ch )) }
     { "(set-context)" "threads.private" (( obj context -- obj' )) }
     { "(set-context-and-delete)" "threads.private" (( obj context -- * )) }
     { "(start-context)" "threads.private" (( obj quot -- obj' )) }
@@ -533,8 +534,6 @@ tuple
     { "<string>" "strings" "primitive_string" (( n ch -- string )) }
     { "resize-string" "strings" "primitive_resize_string" (( n str -- newstr )) }
     { "set-string-nth-fast" "strings.private" "primitive_set_string_nth_fast" (( ch n string -- )) }
-    { "set-string-nth-slow" "strings.private" "primitive_set_string_nth_slow" (( ch n string -- )) }
-    { "string-nth" "strings.private" "primitive_string_nth" (( n string -- ch )) }
     { "(exit)" "system" "primitive_exit" (( n -- * )) }
     { "nano-count" "system" "primitive_nano_count" (( -- ns )) }
     { "system-micros" "system" "primitive_system_micros" (( -- us )) }
diff --git a/core/strings/strings-tests.factor b/core/strings/strings-tests.factor
index b90d96a356..247bd8d007 100644
--- a/core/strings/strings-tests.factor
+++ b/core/strings/strings-tests.factor
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ unit-test
     "s" get >array
 ] unit-test
 
+! Make sure string initialization works
+[ HEX: 123456 ] [ 100 HEX: 123456 <string> first ] unit-test
+
 ! Make sure we clear aux vector when storing octets
 [ "\u123456hi" ] [ "ih\u123456" clone reverse! ] unit-test
 
diff --git a/core/strings/strings.factor b/core/strings/strings.factor
index 50d79a4d8a..f356d2a877 100644
--- a/core/strings/strings.factor
+++ b/core/strings/strings.factor
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-! Copyright (C) 2003, 2008 Slava Pestov.
+! Copyright (C) 2003, 2010 Slava Pestov.
 ! See http://factorcode.org/license.txt for BSD license.
-USING: accessors kernel math.private sequences kernel.private
-math sequences.private slots.private alien.accessors ;
+USING: accessors alien.accessors byte-arrays kernel math.private
+sequences kernel.private math sequences.private slots.private ;
 IN: strings
 
 <PRIVATE
@@ -16,8 +16,31 @@ IN: strings
 : rehash-string ( str -- )
     1 over sequence-hashcode swap set-string-hashcode ; inline
 
+: (aux) ( n string -- byte-array m )
+    aux>> { byte-array } declare swap 1 fixnum-shift-fast ; inline
+
+: small-char? ( ch -- ? ) HEX: 7f fixnum<= ; inline
+
+: string-nth ( n string -- ch )
+    2dup string-nth-fast dup small-char?
+    [ 2nip ] [
+        [ (aux) alien-unsigned-2 7 fixnum-shift-fast ] dip
+        fixnum-bitxor
+    ] if ; inline
+
+: ensure-aux ( string -- string )
+    dup aux>> [ dup length 2 * (byte-array) >>aux ] unless ; inline
+
+: set-string-nth-slow ( ch n string -- )
+    [ [ HEX: 80 fixnum-bitor ] 2dip set-string-nth-fast ]
+    [
+        ensure-aux
+        [ -7 fixnum-shift-fast 1 fixnum-bitxor ] 2dip
+        (aux) set-alien-unsigned-2
+    ] 3bi ;
+
 : set-string-nth ( ch n string -- )
-    pick HEX: 7f fixnum<=
+    pick small-char?
     [ set-string-nth-fast ] [ set-string-nth-slow ] if ; inline
 
 PRIVATE>
diff --git a/vm/debug.cpp b/vm/debug.cpp
index 85335d49ae..bb3a8b0ce5 100755
--- a/vm/debug.cpp
+++ b/vm/debug.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ namespace factor
 std::ostream &operator<<(std::ostream &out, const string *str)
 {
 	for(cell i = 0; i < string_capacity(str); i++)
-		out << (char)str->nth(i);
+		out << (char)str->data()[i];
 	return out;
 }
 
diff --git a/vm/layouts.hpp b/vm/layouts.hpp
index 3e51d1fa4d..0cf8607a05 100644
--- a/vm/layouts.hpp
+++ b/vm/layouts.hpp
@@ -205,8 +205,6 @@ struct string : public object {
 	cell hashcode;
 
 	u8 *data() const { return (u8 *)(this + 1); }
-
-	cell nth(cell i) const;
 };
 
 struct code_block;
diff --git a/vm/primitives.hpp b/vm/primitives.hpp
index a2bf912749..cf52168231 100644
--- a/vm/primitives.hpp
+++ b/vm/primitives.hpp
@@ -120,12 +120,10 @@ namespace factor
 	_(set_slot) \
 	_(set_special_object) \
 	_(set_string_nth_fast) \
-	_(set_string_nth_slow) \
 	_(size) \
 	_(sleep) \
 	_(special_object) \
 	_(string) \
-	_(string_nth) \
 	_(strip_stack_traces) \
 	_(system_micros) \
 	_(tuple) \
diff --git a/vm/strings.cpp b/vm/strings.cpp
index 5aad936a9e..aea4641905 100644
--- a/vm/strings.cpp
+++ b/vm/strings.cpp
@@ -3,66 +3,6 @@
 namespace factor
 {
 
-cell string::nth(cell index) const
-{
-	/* If high bit is set, the most significant 16 bits of the char
-	come from the aux vector. The least significant bit of the
-	corresponding aux vector entry is negated, so that we can
-	XOR the two components together and get the original code point
-	back. */
-	cell lo_bits = data()[index];
-
-	if((lo_bits & 0x80) == 0)
-		return lo_bits;
-	else
-	{
-		byte_array *aux = untag<byte_array>(this->aux);
-		cell hi_bits = aux->data<u16>()[index];
-		return (hi_bits << 7) ^ lo_bits;
-	}
-}
-
-void factor_vm::set_string_nth_fast(string *str, cell index, cell ch)
-{
-	str->data()[index] = (u8)ch;
-}
-
-void factor_vm::set_string_nth_slow(string *str_, cell index, cell ch)
-{
-	data_root<string> str(str_,this);
-
-	byte_array *aux;
-
-	str->data()[index] = ((ch & 0x7f) | 0x80);
-
-	if(to_boolean(str->aux))
-		aux = untag<byte_array>(str->aux);
-	else
-	{
-		/* We don't need to pre-initialize the
-		byte array with any data, since we
-		only ever read from the aux vector
-		if the most significant bit of a
-		character is set. Initially all of
-		the bits are clear. */
-		aux = allot_uninitialized_array<byte_array>(untag_fixnum(str->length) * sizeof(u16));
-
-		str->aux = tag<byte_array>(aux);
-		write_barrier(&str->aux);
-	}
-
-	aux->data<u16>()[index] = (u16)((ch >> 7) ^ 1);
-}
-
-/* allocates memory */
-void factor_vm::set_string_nth(string *str, cell index, cell ch)
-{
-	if(ch <= 0x7f)
-		set_string_nth_fast(str,index,ch);
-	else
-		set_string_nth_slow(str,index,ch);
-}
-
 /* Allocates memory */
 string *factor_vm::allot_string_internal(cell capacity)
 {
@@ -81,13 +21,23 @@ void factor_vm::fill_string(string *str_, cell start, cell capacity, cell fill)
 	data_root<string> str(str_,this);
 
 	if(fill <= 0x7f)
-		memset(&str->data()[start],(int)fill,capacity - start);
+		memset(&str->data()[start],(u8)fill,capacity - start);
 	else
 	{
-		cell i;
+		byte_array *aux;
+		if(to_boolean(str->aux))
+			aux = untag<byte_array>(str->aux);
+		else
+		{
+			aux = allot_uninitialized_array<byte_array>(untag_fixnum(str->length) * 2);
+			str->aux = tag<byte_array>(aux);
+			write_barrier(&str->aux);
+		}
 
-		for(i = start; i < capacity; i++)
-			set_string_nth(str.untagged(),i,fill);
+		u8 lo_fill = (u8)((fill & 0x7f) | 0x80);
+		u16 hi_fill = (u16)((fill >> 7) ^ 0x1);
+		memset(&str->data()[start],lo_fill,capacity - start);
+		memset_2(&aux->data<u16>()[start],hi_fill,(capacity - start) * sizeof(u16));
 	}
 }
 
@@ -141,8 +91,7 @@ string* factor_vm::reallot_string(string *str_, cell capacity)
 
 		if(to_boolean(str->aux))
 		{
-			byte_array *new_aux = allot_byte_array(capacity * sizeof(u16));
-
+			byte_array *new_aux = allot_uninitialized_array<byte_array>(capacity * 2);
 			new_str->aux = tag<byte_array>(new_aux);
 			write_barrier(&new_str->aux);
 
@@ -163,27 +112,12 @@ void factor_vm::primitive_resize_string()
 	ctx->push(tag<string>(reallot_string(str.untagged(),capacity)));
 }
 
-void factor_vm::primitive_string_nth()
-{
-	string *str = untag<string>(ctx->pop());
-	cell index = untag_fixnum(ctx->pop());
-	ctx->push(tag_fixnum(str->nth(index)));
-}
-
 void factor_vm::primitive_set_string_nth_fast()
 {
 	string *str = untag<string>(ctx->pop());
 	cell index = untag_fixnum(ctx->pop());
 	cell value = untag_fixnum(ctx->pop());
-	set_string_nth_fast(str,index,value);
-}
-
-void factor_vm::primitive_set_string_nth_slow()
-{
-	string *str = untag<string>(ctx->pop());
-	cell index = untag_fixnum(ctx->pop());
-	cell value = untag_fixnum(ctx->pop());
-	set_string_nth_slow(str,index,value);
+	str->data()[index] = (u8)value;
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/vm/utilities.hpp b/vm/utilities.hpp
index cea70c0c37..e75d3ece12 100755
--- a/vm/utilities.hpp
+++ b/vm/utilities.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,27 @@
 namespace factor
 {
 
+inline static void memset_2(void *dst, u16 pattern, size_t size)
+{
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+	cell cell_pattern = (pattern | (pattern << 16));
+	memset_pattern4(dst,&cell_pattern,size);
+#else
+	if(pattern == 0)
+		memset(dst,0,size);
+	else
+	{
+		u16 *start = (u16 *)dst;
+		u16 *end = (u16 *)((cell)dst + size);
+		while(start < end)
+		{
+			*start = pattern;
+			start++;
+		}
+	}
+#endif
+}
+
 inline static void memset_cell(void *dst, cell pattern, size_t size)
 {
 #ifdef __APPLE__
diff --git a/vm/vm.hpp b/vm/vm.hpp
index d9bd17fa51..3b6fb2311f 100755
--- a/vm/vm.hpp
+++ b/vm/vm.hpp
@@ -381,10 +381,6 @@ struct factor_vm
 	cell std_vector_to_array(std::vector<cell> &elements);
 
 	// strings
-	cell string_nth(const string *str, cell index);
-	void set_string_nth_fast(string *str, cell index, cell ch);
-	void set_string_nth_slow(string *str_, cell index, cell ch);
-	void set_string_nth(string *str, cell index, cell ch);
 	string *allot_string_internal(cell capacity);
 	void fill_string(string *str_, cell start, cell capacity, cell fill);
 	string *allot_string(cell capacity, cell fill);
@@ -392,9 +388,7 @@ struct factor_vm
 	bool reallot_string_in_place_p(string *str, cell capacity);
 	string* reallot_string(string *str_, cell capacity);
 	void primitive_resize_string();
-	void primitive_string_nth();
 	void primitive_set_string_nth_fast();
-	void primitive_set_string_nth_slow();
 
 	// booleans
 	cell tag_boolean(cell untagged)